Customer Reviews

Conflict and Community in Corinth: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on 1 and 2 Corinthians

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Ben Witherington's work exemplifies the goals of good socio-rhetorical commentary--describing people, where they live, how they talk, what they do. The tools he uses help us fill in the gaps that scripture leaves out and give us a fuller picture of the New Testament world, especially Corinth and Paul's church there. Because I am a pastor whose job is a people job, his work makes my job easier and helps me to focus on the message for my people well.

I am grateful for his description of a church fragmenting in confusion, and how the Gospel Paul preaches can heal it!

I used this text for a class in seminary. Witherington has helped me wrestle with the difficulties of Paul's often controversial Corinthian correspondence. Witherington helps the Corinthian exegete to understand the culture bound context from which Paul was writing from and writing to (he offers 75+ pages of helpful guidance to navigate the Corinthian correspondence). Placing the letters in their social and rhetorical contexts, Paul's words spring to new life. I would highly recommend this text paired with Fee's commentary on 1 Corinthians as conversation partners.

I really appreciated this commentary greatly. It helped we to get a feel for 1st Century Corinth and to understand the motivations behind the actions of the Corinthian Church. It was a significant reference too in a post graduate essay on "Discernment in the Corinthian Church".

I have used this commentary exclusively on 2 Corinthians, and Witherington's comments are shorter on 2 Corinthians. I consider this the best commentary on 2 Corinthians. I may not always agree with Witherington, but he has the knowledge base and mind of a great scholar and writes from a fairly conservative position. He evades nothing and is thorough.

Witherington's commentaries are academic but understandable to even a serious laymen, but they are especially useful to pastors and theologians -- people who want to get into the meaning of the text at a deeper level.

I have used this commentary in my studies for 1 Corinthians only and it is fantastic (I have not looked at 2 Corinthians as yet so my review is purely based upon 1 Cor.). BWIII's work is complemented by this book as 1 Corinthians is riddled with rhetoric as most readers will know. His understanding of 1:10-17 is excellent (pp94-105) and his cross overs with other Greco-Roman works is great (throughout). There will be some sections you may not agree with. I personally found his thoughts on head coverings interesting but not convincing (pp232-240), but he may well be correct. I was glad I read his perspective all the same! I found this tome complemented Fee's work fantastically.

As with Keener, BWIII is at his best when developing a picture of social life in the 1st Century Roman Empire. He does engage with the Greek often but if you are someone whom is a Greek 'nut' then you may be better off picking up Thistleton. I have to say though that if you are seriously studying 1 Corinthians be sure to purchase Fee, BWIII, Thistleton, and Garland. Those are my top four on this book in no particular order.

I also find that you will often get a different opinion on many passages throughout the NT in BWIII's numerous titles under the banner of 'Socio-Rhetorical'. This is welcomed as too many scholars today are not adding anything of value to discussions.

I just finished reading this book.

Inside the front cover was written the date I bought it "June 6, 2003." This book has been sitting in my library for nearly 6 and a half years waiting to be read!

Nevertheless, when a book's time to be read, it's time to read it.

This is a excellent, superb book. As a former fellow student with Ben, I knew that if the book would be anything like Ben himself it would have to be a good one.

It is an exhaustive book. It has a plethora of footnotes which I now have to read because I wanted to get through the chapters themselves first. That in itself promises to be most informative.

This is a very thorough book.

This book reflects Witherington himself: it is thorough, fair (and he tries to treat those who disagree with him with respect as he dismantles their arguments) and imaginative reflective of good teaching ability. For example, Witherington does a very good job of fleshing out the members of the actual church in Corinth to the best of his ability. Of course, this is not a work of fiction, but to understand the church at Corinth these people need to be "fleshed out" someway , somehow. Including Paul himself.

The litmus test of this book is whether it accurately places one in the middle of Corinth Greece in 53? AD and within the mind of Paul during that place and that time.

Litmus test passed.

Right now I'm looking at two more of Witherington's books on my bookshelf I bought 2-3 years ago. And haven't read yet.

I like to buy excellent books too much I suppose...

The author covers areas that I was unable to find in many other commentaries especially the part about women praying.